Car-coupling



(No Model.)

J. A.. SCOTT an' T. OLIVER.

GAR GOUPLING.

No. 355,346. Patnted Jam.A 4', 1887.v

. .Rmy

UNITED STATES PATENT ErrcE.

JAM-ES A. SCOTT AND THOMAS oLIvEE, OF wEsT BAY CITY, MICHIGAN.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 355,346, dated Jannary 4, 1887.

Application tiled June 4, 1886.

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JAMES A. SCOTT and THOMAS' OLIVER, Citizens ofthe United States, residing at West Bay City. in the county of Bay, State of Michigamhave invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car-Couplings, of which the following isa specification, reference being had therein to the accom panying drawings.

Thisxinvention relates to improvements in that class of car-couplers in which a link and hook is employed, the link projecting from the draw-head and the hook extending downward just at the inner end of the link, and with trunnions projecting from the sides of the link and through slots in the sides ofthe drawbar for holding the link, and a weighted portion extending inward from the trunnions to hold by gravity the link in a proper position for coupling, Src., the coupling being effected by the two links Sliding one over the other, the hook projecting from the upper link Catching into the link below, the uncoupling being effected by raising the inner or counterbalancing end of the lower link by means of a chain which connects the inner end of the coupling to an arm projecting from a rod or shaft placed across the end of the car in such a manner that when the rod is partially revolved the arm and chain is operated to lift the inner or weighted end of the coupler and free the link from engagement with the hook; but with the device described' the uncoupling must be done and the shaft held by the operator in a position to retain the link free from the hook until the engine can be drawn away, which Causes great inconvenience, trouble,and loss of time, and the objectof this invention is to construct a device which will hold the shaft in a position disengaging the hook from the link for so long as the engine may be pushing the car, and that will release the coupler and allow it to return to its normal position as soon as the engine is started forward to leave the car. This allows the operator to throw open the proper couplingas the car passes to the side track, and gives him full liberty to make the proper signal tothe engineer to stop when the car has reached the desired position without following the car to hold the coupling open.

Serial No. 204,117. (No model.)

The invention consists, chiefly, in the combination, with the draw-bar and coupler, of the devices hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and which are illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a perspective View of a portion of the end of a car`and its coupling with our improvement thereto attached. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the same,show ing the position of the parts when the coupling is closed. Fig. 3 is the same when the coupling is open. Fig. 4 is anend View of the same, partly sectional.

a represents the end of a car, and b is a drawbar formed with a Chamber, c, and side slots, d, and provided with a spring, n, on its rear end. Within the chamber c is placed a coupler, e, having alink, f, extending from the outer end of the chamber, and the trunnions g, projecting from its sides beyond the inner end of lthe link-opening and resting in the side slots, d. The inner end of the coupling is provided with a weighted portion, h, which serves to hold the link in a horizontal position, but whichallows the link end of the coupler to tilt downward when required for coupling. A hook, z', projects downward from the portion just in rear of the link-opening, and a chain, j, is secured by one end to the weighted end 7i, and its opposite end is secured to the arm 7c, which extends downward from a shaft, Z, which is placed across the end of the car and secured thereto in such a manner that it may be partially rotated by the bent portions m, projecting downward on opposite sides of the car. v

The operation of the parts is as follows: Vheu two cars are run together, one of the links passes over the other, as shown in Fig. 2, the lower link tilting downward, as in Fig, and catching over' the hook of the upper link when it returns to its horizontal position; and

in order to disengage the couplers, the rod or shaft is partially revolved by turning the portions m to a horizontal position. rlhis also IOO arm mis released and the parts return to their former position. j

o o are inclined portions,projectiug upward from the upper side of the draw-bar b from the portion which projects beyond the end of the car, and resting upon the inclined portions o are the lower ends of the sliding bars @which are joined together at their upper ends by the part q, and projecting downward from the central part of the portion q is the catch r. The bars p are loosely secured to the front end of the car in a manner that they may slide vertically, so that when the draw-bar is pushed inward by the next car the bars p slide downward upon the inclines o, and when the car is drawn away the draw-bar is pushed outward by the spring a, and the inclines o lift the barsp to their former position.

The arm 7a is provided on the side of the portion connected with the shaft Zwith a notch, s, which, when the shaft is rotated to lift the coupler for disengaging the link while the draw-bar is pushed inward, catches over the catch r, and holds the coupler link disengaged from the hook,so that so long as one car is pushing the other backward the coupler is held disengaged; but as soon as the pushing car is started in the opposite direction the couplers are withdrawn from engagement and the draw-bar is pushed outward by the spring n, the bars p are lifted by the inclines o, and the catch r is disengaged from the notch s, which allows the parts to return to a position for coupling. This device allows the operator to throw open the coupling while the car is being backed to place, and to stand in a suitable position for giving the proper signal to the engineer to leave the car, and no further attentionis required to be given to the coupler, as when the car is left it returns to a' position for coupling again automatically; and so long as the car is not pushed andthe draw-bar remains extended by the spring a the vertical bars p and catch r remainwithout operating,

and whenever the draw-bar is pushed inward the catch r drops upon` the upper or rounded portion, and there remains until the shaft and arm is operated for uncoupling, when it will drop into and engage with the notch s and hold the coupling open until the ears are drawn apart, and should the coupling remain closed the vertical bars merely return to their former position when the cars are started forward.

That we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a car-coupling, the shaft l, secured to the front end of the car and provided with the downwardly-extending arm k, attached tothe coupler by a chain, j, and provided with the notch s, in combination with the vertical bars p, adjustably secured to the end ofthe car above the draw-head and provided with a catch, o", above the arm 7c, and means, substalr tially as described, for operating the said vertical bars to lock the arm 7c in a horizontal position while the draw-bar is pushed inward,

substantially as herein set forth.

2. In acar-coupling, the combination, with a eharnbered drawbar having upwardly-inclined portions on its upper side and a cush-.

ioning spring upon its inner end, and having a coupler, substantially as described, within the chamber, a shaft secured to the end of the car, and having a downwardly-extending arm connected by a chain to the coupler, and pro vided with a notch, s, of the verticallysliding barsp, connected together by their upper ends by the portion q, and with their lower ends resting upon the said inclined portion,and the catch 1^, secured to the connecting part g, sub stantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

. JAMES A. SCOTT.

THOMAS OLIVER. Vitnesses:

I. E. THoMAs, WV. H. POWER. 

